Methods of identifying and treating glioblastoma

Abstract

The invention encompasses methods and kits used in the detection of invasive glioblastoma based upon the expression of NHERF-1. The methods and kits also allow prediction of disease outcome as well as therapeutic outcome.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of sensitizing a subject diagnosed with invasive cancer to a therapeutic that targets non-migrating cells, the method comprising the step of administering to the subject a NHERF1 (SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:2) inhibitor wherein the inhibition of NHERF1 switches invasive cancer cells in the subject to non-migrating cancer cells that are sensitive to a therapeutic that targets the non-migrating cells. 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the therapeutic is selected from the group consisting of Temozolomide and bevacizumab. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the NHERF1 inhibitor is an siRNA against the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the NHERF1 inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:3 and SEQ ID NO:4. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the invasive cancer is selected from the group consisting of glioblastoma, breast cancer, and hepatocellular carcinoma. 
     
     
       6. A method of treating invasive cancer in a subject, the method comprising the steps of:
 administering to the subject a NHERF1 (SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:2) inhibitor that switches invasive cancer cells to non-migrating cancer cells; and 
 administering a chemotherapeutic agent. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the NHERF1 inhibitor is an siRNA against the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the NHERF1 inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:3 and SEQ ID NO:4. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the chemotherapeutic agent is selected from the group consisting of Temozolomide and bevacizumab. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the invasive cancer is selected from the group consisting of glioblastoma, breast cancer, and hepatocellular carcinoma. 
     
     
       11. A method of inhibiting the migration of cancer cells in a subject, the method comprising the step of administering to the subject a NHERF1 (SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:2) inhibitor. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the NHERF1 inhibitor 1 is an siRNA against the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the NHERF1 inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:3 and SEQ ID NO:4. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the cancer cells is selected from the group consisting of glioblastoma, breast cancer, and hepatocellular carcinoma. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 9 , wherein inhibiting the migration of cancer cells also sensitizes the cancer cells to a chemotherapeutic agent.